I agree. I thought that crack about Denise sucking at life was completely uncalled for, and classless. Denise appears to be a happily married woman and the mother of two children - that's a success in my book. Sure, she could probably aspire to better employment, but to say she "sucks at life" is just wrong. I suspect the same could be said about a waitress who shows her tiny tits for cash, but Denise didn't go there. There's a name for people who say whatever is on their mind, "unfiltered", with no thought about the consequences:

I agree. I thought that crack about Denise sucking at life was completely uncalled for, and classless. Denise appears to be a happily married woman and the mother of two children - that's a success in my book. Sure, she could probably aspire to better employment, but to say she "sucks at life" is just wrong. I suspect the same could be said about a waitress who shows her tiny tits for cash, but Denise didn't go there. There's a name for people who say whatever is on their mind, "unfiltered", with no thought about the consequences:

We call them children.

Still, this was a great season that went down smoothly.

Ok, I'm going to slightly defend the Denise comment. You have to frame it into the context that Denise was running around trying to garner sympathy so that they didn't vote her off. She was basically wanting the other 3 to keep her around so she could win because as she herself stated her life wasn't going anywhere...this was her last chance. If I was out there that would probably irritate the Hell out of me as well. The game of Survivor is not a charity for people who aren't happy with their lives; it's an adventure game show.

Is Courtney too caustic sometimes? Sure. Does she have growing up to do? I would say yes. But I agree with her basic point...Denise didn't deserve the money because her life sucked. That was what Denise was trying to accomplish. All three of the others knew it. They knew if they took Denise to the jury that was the card she was going to play (Amanda said in a post show interview that she was afraid Denise would win). It didn't work for her.

By the way, in the same interview they asked Amanda about the infamous blurring. She has no idea why, but she figured it must be b/c Survivor was a family show. She also said her parents started calling her Fuzzbutt.

[QUOTE=mwbmis]Ok, I'm going to slightly defend the Denise comment. You have to frame it into the context that Denise was running around trying to garner sympathy so that they didn't vote her off. She was basically wanting the other 3 to keep her around so she could win because as she herself stated her life wasn't going anywhere...this was her last chance. If I was out there that would probably irritate the Hell out of me as well. The game of Survivor is not a charity for people who aren't happy with their lives; it's an adventure game show.

You're right mwbmis - no one deserves to win based on their status in life, and I could see that Denise was playing that card from the start - I just thought that comment was particularly nasty. There seems to be a bias against the working class these days that really irks me - I hear these types of comments about the houskeeping staff, maintenance crew, service workers etc. at my office all the time.

You're right mwbmis - no one deserves to win based on their status in life, and I could see that Denise was playing that card from the start - I just thought that comment was particularly nasty. There seems to be a bias against the working class these days that really irks me - I hear these types of comments about the houskeeping staff, maintenance crew, service workers etc. at my office all the time.

And it seemed to me that Courtney was fairly ashamed and contrite about what she said. She had already apologized to Denise, and Denise seemed ok with it. Courtney probably also gained some self-realization watching herself say things like that on TV. While she is at times very funny (frequently at her own expense) perhaps she will be a little more cautious in saying things that could be perceived as hurtful. I know that I am a little more self aware in my 30s than I was in my 20s.

And it seemed to me that Courtney was fairly ashamed and contrite about what she said. She had already apologized to Denise, and Denise seemed ok with it. Courtney probably also gained some self-realization watching herself say things like that on TV. While she is at times very funny (frequently at her own expense) perhaps she will be a little more cautious in saying things that could be perceived as hurtful. I know that I am a little more self aware in my 30s than I was in my 20s.

I am also basing my contempt of Courtney because of several comments she made at the beginning of the season regarding how she has nothing in common with many of the other survivors (basically making it sound like she felt they were beneath her class). It went way beyond the typical New Yorker "better than the rest of the country" attitude.

EDIT to add: Also I don't think she seemed ashamed, more embarrassed (and pissed off) that she was called out on it. Denise was a nice enough person that she would have accepted even a half hearted (fake) apology.

And it seemed to me that Courtney was fairly ashamed and contrite about what she said. She had already apologized to Denise, and Denise seemed ok with it. Courtney probably also gained some self-realization watching herself say things like that on TV. While she is at times very funny (frequently at her own expense) perhaps she will be a little more cautious in saying things that could be perceived as hurtful. I know that I am a little more self aware in my 30s than I was in my 20s.

Millions sat with their jaws agape waiting to hear who would win $100,000 as Survivor China's most popular contestant on the series' reunion show Sunday night (it was James) -- but perhaps none was more agape than Nancy T. Lane's. Lane is the superintendent of the Douglas Public Schools in Douglas, Mass., and she says that her employee, "lunch lady" contestant Denise Martin, lied on Sunday's live broadcast when she stated that she was not given her job back as a cafeteria worker upon her return from taping the reality show and instead was made to "clean the toilets" as a janitor working night shifts. At the end of the show, host Jeff Probst gave Martin $50,000 on behalf of producer Mark Burnett to help get her life back on track.

"Yeah, I watched my own jaw drop when she said that, because it's absolutely not true," Lane told Hollywood Insider. Lane released a statement on Monday, on the Douglas Public School District website, explaining that Martin was actually promoted to the position as custodian -- a promotion Lane claims Martin asked for herself. Reached for comment, CBS responded: "The comments made by Ms. Martin on the program were compelling and sympathetic. If these statements were misleading or false, we hope that she will take immediate and public steps to clarify her remarks."

Lane's statement says that "Martin held a full-time position as a custodian prior to her participation in the series, and she returned to this same position upon her return from China." The statement continues, "Although Mrs. Martin was a cafeteria employee prior to her selection as a contestant, she asked to be considered for a promotion to full-time custodian, and was promoted to this position on March 30, 2007. This promotion came with additional benefits and a higher salary. Following her leave, she then returned to this same position." Martin has held the new position since August, when she returned from taping the show, up until last week, when she traveled to California for the live Survivor broadcast, according to Lane.

"I can empathize, having been a working mother," Lane said. "It's tough to work those night shifts. But she took the job; that's the job she took leave from [to do Survivor]. If she wants to go back to the day shift, she should apply when one comes open."

Lane says she spoke with Martin on the telephone on Monday afternoon and that the show's fourth-place finisher was apologetic, but that "she did not explain why she said that to my satisfaction," Lane explained. "It's difficult to grasp. We did nothing but encourage her. She took leave for almost three months, she was given additional times off when ever she needed it. Now she says this on national TV.... Douglas is a nice little town. Everybody was rooting for her, the local paper was bending over backwards with positive articles. Then to have it end this way. Talk about a letdown."

Martin was still in California on Monday, but Lane says her job is waiting for her when she comes back home on Friday. "I told her, 'I think we have a few things to go over,'" Lane says. "I might have a few things I'd like to talk about."

Damn, if that is true, Denise is a fool. I wouldn't be surprise if she gets fired. All the school have to say is that she gave a bad reputation of the school on national TV.

I'm so perplexed reading these posts. Courtney is a horrible person because of your experience of her on a game show? Seriously, people post that I'm too serious about the game and then you judge an entire person's life because she's pretty much a typical 26 year Mahattan smart-ass. Has anyone met people from the East coast? Easily the snarkiest people in the country and the last place I'd want to live. The majority of them think they are better than you, I doubt she even notices it. You need thick skin to live there. I have family there and I dread visiting them.

Courtney immediately called herself out as a total bitch and it was a clear as day she wasn't seriously judging Denise's life. And, it shouldn't be forgotten that everyone wants to win Survivor and Denise was playing the, "oh poor me" card before Courtney said what she said. Would a more mature 26 year old have said it differently? YES. But, basically, all Courtney was saying with her smartass comment was Denise doesn't deserve to win simply because she may have less money than the rest of us. Which most people see to agree with.

Finally, with regard to the applogy, I don't agree that Denise would have accepted it if she didn't think it was genuine. Denise was not even close to my favorite person, but she kind of made a habit of not being afraid of questioning half-truths and she seemed like the kind of person who wouldn't have let someone off the hook if she didn't really believe she was sorry for what she said and how she articulated it. I really think if Denise thought Courtney was not so sorry, she would have just sat there quietly or said something other than that they had privately discussed the matter and she accepted Courtney's apology and everything was good. If you don't believe her, than you just don't like Courtney, even if she was sorry for what she said.

...Seriously, people post that I'm too serious about the game and then you judge an entire person's life because she's pretty much a typical 26 year Mahattan smart-ass. Has anyone met people from the East coast? Easily the snarkiest people in the country and the last place I'd want to live. The majority of them think they are better than you, I doubt she even notices it. You need thick skin to live there. I have family there and I dread visiting them.
...

This is unfortunate.

I'm having trouble understanding why you would have a problem with people judging Courtney when you feel you can judge an entire coast of people.

The funny part here is not only do you judge the entire east coast population but that you use your judgement to support your stance that we shouldn't judge Courtney.

I'm actually embarrassed for Denise that she would use a bullshit SOB story to get sympathy from Mark Burnett, her fellow contestants and the audience. I lost all respect for her after pulling that shit.

Burnett should pull the $50,000 offer and she should be fired from her "Promotion."

I'm wondering how most of these people stay employed after being contestants on this show. I know alot of them are starving actors/models and don't have steady jobs. But for those who actually work, how the hell are you suppose to explain a 39 day leave of absence from your job without revealing where the hell your going? I have 6 weeks vacation with my employer, but my boss would never let me take over a month off plus appearances on CBS etc.

And now I'm wondering how the hell is Amanda & James staying employed being away from their jobs for almost 80 days (if they are indeed doing the next installment) in about 6 months without giving away where the hell they are going.